Smoking article for accelerating or renewing burning action of tobacco

ABSTRACT

Smoking article for accelerating or renewing burning action of tobacco, wherein the smoking article has a body of tobacco made to be lighted and burned from one end thereof, the opposite end of the smoking article defining a mouth piece tip formed with a flat inclined surface that slopes upwardly and forwardly from its underneath surface to the top surface thereof in a direction toward the burning end of the tobacco, the inclined surface intersecting a smoke passage at the tip, the inclined surface being disposed so that the smoker&#39;&#39;s upper lip may easily rest thereagainst to thus at least partially close the smoke discharge end of the passage, with the inclined surface being arranged so that the smoker&#39;&#39;s upper lip may yield or flex slightly during puffs to permit reduced flow of indrawn air through the burning tobacco for accelerating the desired burning action, or to start renewed burning action of dying burning embers of the tobacco.

United States Patent [191 Lebert [451 Apr. 23, 1974 [54] SMOKING ARTICLE FOR ACCELERATING OR RENEWING BURNING ACTION OF TOBACCO [76] Inventor: Herbert A. Lebert, 25 Windsor Dr.,

Hillsborough, Calif. 94010 22 Filed: m 19, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 255,091

[52] US. Cl. 131/229 [51] Int. Cl. A24f 07/00 [58] Field of Search 131/8, 227, 228, 229, 187,

, 131/4R,1l,10R, 12,13

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 909,903 l/1909 Hustis .L 13l/211;229 UX 840,853 l/1907 King 131/229 X 3,547,132 12/1970 Beam 131/187 X 1,118,828 11/1914 Thomas 131/229 X 948,634 2/1910 Perry 131/227 X 942,688 12/1909 Whitney 131/227 X 3,260,265 7/1966 Oster 131/8 R FQREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 14,015 0/1905 Great Britain 131/229 26,554 0/1905 Great Britain 131/229 11/1960 France l3l/10R 416,072 10/1910 France .-l31/229 Primary Examiner.1oseph S. Reich Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Joseph F. Cole [5 7] ABSTRACT Smoking article for accelerating 0r renewing burningaction of tobacco, wherein the smoking article has a body of tobacco made to be lighted and burned from one end thereof, the opposite end of the smoking article defining a mouth piece tip formed with a flat inclined surface that slopes upwardly and forwardly from its underneath surface to the top surface thereof in a direction toward the burning end of the tobacco, the inclined surface intersecting a smoke passage at the tip, the inclined surface being disposed so that the smokers upper lip may easily rest thereagainst to thus at least partially close the smoke discharge end of the passage, with the inclined surface being arranged so that the smokers upper lip may yield or flex slightly during puffs to permit reduced flow of indrawn air through the burning tobacco for accelerating the de sired burning action, or to start renewed burning action of dying burning embers of the tobacco.

1 Claim, 8 Drawing Figures SMOKING ARTICLEFOR V ACCELERATING OR RENEWING BURNING ACTION OF TOBACCO SUMMARY Most smokers have used or observed the use of the technique for accelerating the burning action in a pipe by the placement of a match book cover or other objects over the top of the pipe bowl and drawing on the pipe for several puffs.

I am able to accomplish the same result by a simple redesign of the pipe stem or bit at the mouthpiece tip, and this principle may be applied to other smoking articles, such as cigar or cigarette holders.

Briefly described, the mouthpiece tip of the smoking article is formed with a flat inclined surface so that the upper lip or the smoker can effectively cover the discharge end of the smoke passage of the article to thus partially close the passage as the lip will allow the flow of smoke as the smoker draws on the pipe or othersmoking article. Such partial closing of the passage has the same action as the partial closing of the bowls opening with a match book cover or the like and is easy to do at any time the smoker feels thevolume of smoke being obtained is too small or if the ember has died down for any reason. In fact, after smoking the improved smoking article for a short period of time, the smoker will automatically place the upper lip against the inclined surface to the degree required to give the volume of smoke and burning action desired, and this will be true regardless of whether the smoking article is a pipe, cigar or cigarette holder.

The crux of my idea is a structure whereby the smoker, with no extra effort, can partially close the smoke passage with the upper lip and thus accelerate the burning action of the tobacoo to the desired extent and then go on smoking in the conventional manner, again making the change with no appreciable effort.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a better understanding of the invention, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of

my improved smoking pipe;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the removable pipe stern shown in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are top plan and side elevational views, respectively, of my improved cigar holder removabl supporting a cigar; j

FIGS. 5 and 6 are views similar to FIGS. 3 and 4, respectively, but disclosing my improved cigar holder fixedly secured to a cigar;

FIGS. 7 and 8 are top plan and side elevational views, respectively, of my improved cigarette holder mounted on a cigarette.

While I have shown only the preferred embodiments of the invention, it should be understood that various changes, or modifications, may be made within the scope of the appended claim without departing from the spirit thereof.

The threemain ways for smoking tobacco are pipes,

cigars and cigarettes, and in all three cases there is an ember of burning tobacco that serves as aheat source to form of distill smoke from the unburned tobacco just below or in back of the ember. The heat source or ember has a tendency to go out if the smoker does not continue to draw or puff on the article being smoked. This tendency to go out is most pronounced in the pipe; less pronounced in a cigar; least pronounced in a cigarette. However, in all three configurations the smoker must take one or more puffs to get the ember burning properly.

Through a simple design configuration of the end of the article being smoked, as hereinafter described in.

cigarette, the smoke passage opening is in the conventional design a straight line passage that allows full flow into the smokers mouth as the passage is in no way blocked or obstructed by the smokers lips as thelips contact the area around the orifice or passage that directs the smoke into the srnokers mouth.

By the simple change of having the discharge end of the smoking item or article formed with a flat inclined surface so that the upper lip of the smoker can easily rest on this surface and thus close the passage to a considerable degree, it is possible to obtain good burning action of the tobacco and a resultant good volume of smoke on the first draw or puff as the smokers lip will automatically adjust, i.e., control the flow to the proper degree.

It would seem that if the tobacco ember need stimulation that the greater air flow the faster the burning ac-' tion, i.e., let a lot of air pass through the article being smoked,but such is not the case. As previously mentioned, most smokers have used the technique of placing a match book cover over the pipe bowl opening and drawing on the pipe to speed up the burning action through reduced air flow to the ember and it is this same metering action that can be. obtained easily and automaticallyby lip action on the inclined surface of the discharge end of the article being smoked, i.e., the bit end or mouthpiece tip of a pipe, the mouth end of a cigar or cigarette, or a cigar or cigarette holder.

As to the operation, it is believed that the reduced flow of air to the dying ember provides enough oxygen to start or renew the burning action, but is low enough in volume to not chill or cool the ember.

Referring now to to the embodiment of the invention as disclosed in FIGS. 1 and 2, it will be noted that the smoking article is a smokerfs pipe designated generally at A having an open two bowl 10 for holding a charge of tobacco 11 to be smoked. This pipe has been shown as being provided with a removable stem 12 having a smoke passage 13 leading from the passage 14 formed in the pipe body to the moutnpiece tip 15 of the stem, whichis adapted to beheld in the smokers mouth, whereby smoke may be drawn into the mouthof the smoker. The'mouthpiece tip 15 is fonned with a flat inclined surface 16 that slopes upwardly and forwardly 'from its underneath surface 17 to the top surface 18 thereof in a direction extending toward the bowl 10,

this inclined surface intersecting the smoke passage I3v thereagainst to thus at least partially close the smoke discharge end of the passage 13, with the inclined surface being arranged so that the smokers upper lip may yield or flex slightly during puffs by the smoker to permit reduced flow of indrawn air through the burning tobacco 11 for accelerating and obtaining the desired burning action, or to start renewed burning action of dying burning embers. Flat inclined surface 16 extends entirely around the discharge end of passage 13.

It is important that the inclined surface 16 be disposed so that the upper lip of the smoker may be used for at least partially closing the discharge end of passage 13. Partial or desired closure of draw flow cannot be attained by pressing the tongue against the passage. Moreover, the reduced flow of air cannot be obtained by action of the lower lip of the smoker without a concerted effort on the part of the smoker.

Holding shoulders 20 are provided on the top and underneath surfaces of the mouthpiece tip 15 forward of the flat inclined surface 16, and the central longitudinal portion of the underneath holding shoulder is straight,

paralleling the longitudinal axis 19, as shown in FIG. 1. These same structural features are shown in FIGS. 4, 6 and 8. These holding shoulders are so disposed that the smokers upper and lower lips will slightly overhang the top and underneath holding shoulders, respectively, while the smokers upper lip rests against the flat inclined surface 16, thus overcoming any tendency of the mouthpiece tip 15 to slip out of the smokers mouth.

The vertical or minor axis of the mouthpiece tip 15 is constant except for the flat inclined surface 16.

I have determined by actual reduction to practice the optimum angle of slope of the inclined surface 16 relative to the longitudinal axis 19 of the smoking article (see FIG. 2), using the following angles: 20, and My observations after actually smoking the smoking articles are as follows:

2 0: This angle is too flat as the upper lip does not seem to flex enough to allow a reduced flow as desired in fact it just is not acceptable. Moreover, the shallow angle allows the lip to slide off easily, and the length of the lower edge 17 back of the holding ridge 20 is too long, i.e., extends into the smokers mouth too far.

250: This angle can be forced to work but not at all satisfactorily. It too, seems to extend into the mout too far.

30: This angle will work to a certain extent but is not as satisfactory as av steeper angle.

I 35: This angle works but not as easy 40: This angle seems to'work best. 45: This angle works but not as well as the 40 angle. 50: This angle will work if the pipe is held at a slight angle downward from the horizontal.

55: This angle calls-for a still greater downward tilt of the pipe or other smoking article for proper lip contact, if the desired reduction in flow through the as the 40 angle.

pipe is to be attained.

60: This angle is too steep'and required considerable positioning effort on the part of the smoker to obtain the proper flow.

It thus appears that 40 is the best angle and that manufacturing tolerances would permit deviations of plus or minus of 5.

Turning now to the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the smoking article B includes a cigar 21 and aqremovable mouthpiece holder 22 mounted on one end of the cigar. The cigar 21 has the usual tocacco filler 23 encased in tobacco wrapper 24. The holder 22 is provided with a passage 25 for smoke and has been formed with a flat inclined surface 26 on the tip of the holder and sloping in a direction toward the burning end 27 of the cigar. The angle of slope and purpose of the inclined surface 26 is the same as that of the flat inclined surface 16 in FIGS. 1 and 2, and no further description thereof is considered necessary.

In FIGS. 5 and 6, a cigar 28 has been shown as having a mouthpiece holder 29 fixedly secured thereto, the

cigar being formed in conventional manner with tobacco filler 30 encased in wrapper 31. Holder 29 has a smoke passage 32 and the mouth tip 33 is provided with a flat inclined surface 34 arranged in the same manner and for the identical purpose as the inclined surface 16 in FIGS. 1 and 2, sloping upwardly and forwardly toward the burning end 35 of the cigar. The smoking articlein FIGS. 5 and 6 is designated at C.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, my improvements have been applied to a smoking article D including a cigarette 36 having a mouthpiece holder 37 removably mounted on one end of the cigarette. The cigarette 36 has a tobacco filler 38 encased in wrapper39, while the holder 37 has a smoke passage 40 leading through the mouth tip 41. Again this tip is formed with a flat inclined surface 42 arranged in the same manner and purpose as the inclined surface 16 in FIGS. 1 and 2, sloping upwardly and forwardly toward the burning end 43 of the cigarette.

I claim:

1. In a smoking article for accelerating or renewing burning action of tobacco:

a. a smoking article having a body of tobacco at the forward end thereof and made to be lighted and burned from one end thereof, the opposite end of the smoking article defining a mouthpiece tip adapted to be held in the smokers mouth, the

smoking article being provided with a smoke pasmay easily rest thereagainst to thus at least partially close the smoke discharge endof the passage, with the inclined surface being arranged so that the smokers upper lip may yield or flex slightly during puffs by the smoker to permit reduced flow of the indrawn air through the .burning tobacco for accelcrating and obtaining the desired burning action and volume of the smoke, or to start renewed buring'action of the dying embers of tobacco;

the optimum angle of slope of the flat inclined surface relative to the longitudinal axis of the smoking article at the mouthpiece tip being 40, with tolerance deviations of plus or minus 5;

e. holding shoulders being provided on the top and underneath surfaces of the mouthpiece tip forward of the flat inclined surface the lower portion of said tip having a smooth external surface, the central longitudinal portion of the underneath surface of the mouthpiece tip in back of the underneath holding shoulder being straight, paralleling said longitudinal axis, the vertical or minor axis of the mouthpiece tip being constant except for the flat inclined surface, and these holding shoulders being so disout of the smokers mouth.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF, come-omen Patent No. 5,805,807 Dated April 23, 1974 Herbert A. 'Lebe rfc It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and fihat" said Ii'iffiifili! Patent answer-em" o o'gz'ebted as shown below:

Column Lline 18, "or" should be --of-. column 2: Line 2, "of" should be --or--; lihe 54, "two" should be ---top-; line 58, "mouthpiece" should be "mouthpiece-.

Column 5, line 21, after "underneath" insert surface 17 of the mouthpiece tip in back of the underneath Signed and sealed this 10th day of September 1974.

(S Attestz c. MARSHALL DANN Commissioner of Patents McCOY M. GIBSON, JR. Attesting Officer 

1. In a smoking article for accelerating or renewing burning action of tobacco: a. a smoking article having a body of tobacco at the forward end thereof and made to be lighted and burned from one end thereof, the opposite end of the smoking article defining a mouthpiece tip adapted to be held in the smoker''s mouth, the smoking article being provided with a smoke passage extending from its burning end to the mouthpiece tip and through which smoke may be drawn into the smoker''s mouth; b. the mouthpiece tip being formed with a flat inclined surface that slopes upwardly and forwardly from its underneath surface to the top surface thereof, the flat inclined surface intersecting the smoke passage at the mouthpiece tip and extending entirely around the smoke discharge end of the passage; c. the flat inclined surface being fully exposed at all times and disposed so that the smoker''s upper lip may easily rest thereagainst to thus at least partially close the smoke discharge end of the passage, with the inclined surface being arranged so that the smoker''s upper lip may yield or flex slightly during puffs by the smoker to permit reduced flow of the indrawn air through the burning tobacco for accelerating and obtaining the desired burning action and volume of the smoke, or to start renewed buring action of the dying embers of tobacco; d. the optimum angle of slope of the flat inclined surface relative to the longitudinal axis of the smoking article at the mouthpiece tip being 40*, with tolerance deviations of plus or minus 5*; e. holding shoulders being provided on the top and underneath surfaces of the mouthpiece tip forward of the flat inclined surface the lower portion of said tip having a smooth external surface, the central longitudinal portion of the underneath surface of the mouthpiece tip in back of the underneath holding shoulder being straight, paralleling said longitudinal axis, the vertical or minor axis of the mouthpiece tip being constant except for the flat inclined surface, and these holding shoulders being so disposed that the smoker''s upper and lower lips will slightly overhang the top and underneath holding shoulders, respectively, while the smoker''s upper lip rests against the flat inclined surface, thus overcoming any tendency of the mouthpiece tip to slip out of the smoker''s mouth. 